Administration for Children and Families - Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP)http://www.acf.hhs.gov/taxonomy/term/5229
The Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP) improves the supply and quality of food in urban and rural areas through refugee farming.
New Video! The Global Growers Program in Atlanta, Georgia, in conjunction with the Georgia Council on Development Disabilities, has produced an excellent video highlighting their local collaboration and the impact of community gardens on refugees resettled to the United States. Take a look!
Read More About RAPP
enAbout RAPPhttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/rapp/about
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><blockquote>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a model for the nation, for the world.&rdquo;</strong><br />
First Lady, Michelle Obama, upon visiting on April 15, 2010, the New Roots Community Farm in San Diego developed by RAPP grantee, the San Diego International Rescue Committee</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The <strong>Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP) </strong>improves the supply and quality of food in urban and rural areas through refugee farming projects. Such projects provide income opportunities for refugees while also encouraging a healthy diet.</p>
<p>RAPP project <strong>goals</strong> include the creation of:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Sustainable income</strong></li>
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<strong>Supplemental income</strong></li>
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<strong>An adequate supply of healthy food</strong></li>
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<strong>Better physical and mental health</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>RAPP supports collaboration among refugees and other community-based organizations to participate in activities such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>
Community gardens</li>
<li>
Small acreage farming</li>
<li>
Farm-to-school programs and school gardens</li>
<li>
Health and nutrition classes</li>
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Farmers&rsquo; markets and local food banks</li>
</ul>
<p>Collaboration with both public and private organization contributes to RAPP success. These partnerships have helped incorporate refugees into the mainstream of the sustainable food movement.</p>
<ul>
<li>
Refugees and the organizations serving them have partnered with the USDA to improve understanding of and access to USDA programs</li>
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The <a href="http://blogs.usda.gov/category/know-your-farmer-know-your-food/">Know Your Farmer Know Your Food blog</a> features RAPP projects, thereby increasing awareness and exposure within local communities.</li>
<li>
The USDA <a href="http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/in_focus/smallfarms_if_part_refugees.html">National Institute for Food Agriculture</a> (NNIFA) highlights RAPP&rsquo;s efforts in small farming</li>
</ul>
<p>In FY 2011, RAPP has 14 grantees, but our network includes 230 subscribers to the RAPP Listserv. Technical assistance is available through the <a href="http://www.isedsolutions.org/">Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED)</a>.&nbsp; In addition to grantee support, an interactive blog allows grantees to share best practices and improve their respective programs.</p>
<p>To learn more about what happened in 2011, read the <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/orr/arc_2011_rapp_accomplishments_final.doc">RAPP Annual Report for 2011</a> (DOC 35KB).</p>
<p>For more information on RAPP Programs, join the <strong><a href="https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/rapp">Listserv</a></strong>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/refugee-agricultural-partnership-program"><strong>List of New Grantees</strong></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/">Funding Opportunities</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Contact Information</strong><br />
Yimeem Vu<br />
RAPP Program Manager<br />
Office of Refugee Resettlement<br />
Administration for Children and Families<br />
901 D Street, SW<br />
Washington, DC 20447<br />
Phone: <span class="baec5a81-e4d6-4674-97f3-e9220f0136c1" style="white-space: nowrap">202.401.4825</span><br />
Fax: <span class="baec5a81-e4d6-4674-97f3-e9220f0136c1" style="white-space: nowrap">202.401.5487</span><br />
<a href="mailto:Yimeem.Vu@acf.hhs.gov">Yimeem.Vu@acf.hhs.gov</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-acf-publication-date field-type-date field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Publication Date:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">August 16, 2012</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-acf-research-related-program field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Program:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5229">Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP)</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-acf-opa-deletion-only field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Only OPA may delete this page.:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">0</div></div></div>Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:18:43 +000012049 at http://www.acf.hhs.govAmina Mohamud of Boise, Idahohttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/success-story/amina-mohamud-of-boise-idaho-epitomizes-the-types-of-successes-refugee
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="Amina Mohamud" class="asset-image asset-id-926 alignright" src="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/styles/acf_asset_medium/public/assets/amina_and_fatuma_carousel.jpg" title="Amina Mohamud" />The story of Amina Mohamud of Boise, Idaho, epitomizes the types of successes refugee women across the country are achieving. &nbsp;Mother of eight children ranging in age from 5 to 19, Amina fled her home country of Somalia at age 19 due to ethnic persecution. She spent nine years in refugee camps in Kenya until her family was resettled to Boise, Idaho, in 2005.</p>
<p>In 2010, she began working in her husband Yussuf&rsquo;s plot, part of the Idaho Office of Refugees&rsquo; Global Gardens project, funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Amina had the primary responsibility for selling the family&rsquo;s produce at the local farmers&rsquo; market. In 2011, she decided to cultivate her own plot after receiving grant assistance from ORR&rsquo;s Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP).</p>
<p>With help from her children, Amina produced vegetables for the weekly Capital City Public Market, Global Gardens&rsquo; CSA (community supported agriculture), and several wholesale customers. She learned to grow, harvest, wash and package vegetables for future sale. Amina can now complete her harvest by herself and deliver the produce to storage. While running this business, she has managed to improve her English, math and driving skills.</p>
<p>What&rsquo;s more, Amina decided to use her cooking skills to increase the revenue from the farm. With Global Gardens&rsquo; help, she secured a small business loan to buy a fryer and other supplies and now sells homemade African sambusas at the farmers&rsquo; market. She can continue to sell sambusas after the growing season is over, thus extending her income into the fall and winter months.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This year Amina used her farm income not only to pay her usual household bills, but also to pay for her oldest daughter Shamsi&rsquo;s wedding. Amina&rsquo;s success is a testimony to how rural women achieving self sufficiency helps them and their communities.</p>
<p>Find out more about the <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/refugee-agricultural-partnership-program">Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program</a>.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-acf-research-related-program field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Program:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5229">Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP)</a></div></div></div>Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:41:37 +00003205 at http://www.acf.hhs.gov